Our Vision
1,000 Mentors Trained by 2030
BraveHearts began with one man's journey from recovery to redemption from sexual addiction. Since then, we've helped thousands of courageous men and women - aka BraveHearts - undertake their own Hero's Journey by pursuing freedom in Christ and a redemptive life of service to God and others.
About Us
Co-CEO, Founder
A nationally recognized author, speaker, and expert on pornography and sexual addiction recovery, Michael is the author of five books (Moody Publishing) including Porn Nation: Conquering Americaās #1 Addiction. He has been featured on ABC’s 20/20, The View, Good Morning America, CNN, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and countless local media outlets. His books, articles, and speaking events have reached an audience of over 100 million people worldwide.
In addition to being a popular speaker in churches and at church conferences, Michael was one of Cruās top evangelistic speakers on college campuses for nearly a decade. In his critically acclaimed āPorn Nationā and āExposedā campus evangelism events, Michael used his expertise and personal redemption story to educate and share the Gospel with over 100,000 students on hundreds of college campuses worldwide, resulting in thousands praying to receive Christ.
He also served on the Board of the International Association of Certified Sexual Addiction Specialists (IACSAS) for five years, is a Certified Pastoral Sexual Addiction Specialist (CPSAS), and managed the development of IACSASā pastoral care counselor certification program.
Michael pioneered the creation and development of professional mentoring as a new approach to providing quality mental health care for those who struggle with sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. Hundreds of men and women, most of whom have successfully navigated their way through their own recovery journey, have received world-class training to become Certified Professional Mentorsā¢ through Braveheartsā critically acclaimed Launch Your Mentoring Ministryā¢ mentor training and certification program.
Co-CEO
Christine Leahy
Christine is an Army veteran previously tasked with special orders to train soldiers in the Army Suicide Prevention Program. She was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the distinguished honor graduate award, and the Soldier of the Cycle award. In 2014 the Joint Special Operations Command of the US Army invited her and Michael to speak on the subject of sex addiction and recovery.
A nationally and internationally experienced speaker, Christine’s past speaking engagements have included story-based evangelism events on college campuses, Masters of Ceremonies for the United States Army Birthday Ball, and narrator/presenter for a multi-million dollar tour production of the Armyās history called Spirit of America before arena audiences typically exceeding 15,000 people.
Her extensive education includes acute stress, grief, and trauma, the Community Resiliency Model, the HEART Model, assessment and treatment of PTSD, compassion fatigue, and compassion stress management. She is a member of the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology and the American Association of Christian Counselors.
While much of Christineās professional experience is in crisis response, she’s also a self-taught website designer and digital marketer. She’s produced five successful virtual summits involving dozens of subject matter experts on everything from sexual addiction and betrayal trauma to divorce recovery, educating over 20,000 attendees from 100 countries. She enjoys teaching digital marketing strategies to mentors and faith-based non-profits who need help multiplying their missionās message online.
Co-CEO
Christine Leahy
Christine is an Army veteran previously tasked with special orders to train soldiers in the Army Suicide Prevention Program. She was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the distinguished honor graduate award, and the Soldier of the Cycle award. In 2014 the Joint Special Operations Command of the US Army invited her and Michael to speak on the subject of sex addiction and recovery.
A nationally and internationally experienced speaker, Christine’s past speaking engagements have included story-based evangelism events on college campuses, Masters of Ceremonies for the United States Army Birthday Ball, and narrator/presenter for a multi-million dollar tour production of the Armyās history called Spirit of America before arena audiences typically exceeding 15,000 people.
Her extensive education includes acute stress, grief, and trauma, the Community Resiliency Model, the HEART Model, assessment and treatment of PTSD, compassion fatigue, and compassion stress management. She is a member of the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology and the American Association of Christian Counselors.
While much of Christineās professional experience is in crisis response, she’s also a self-taught website designer and digital marketer. She’s produced five successful virtual summits involving dozens of subject matter experts on everything from sexual addiction and betrayal trauma to divorce recovery, educating over 20,000 attendees from 100 countries. She enjoys teaching digital marketing strategies to mentors and faith-based non-profits who need help multiplying their missionās message online.
People Over Programs
The Core Values That Drive Our Ministry
20-Year History
BraveHearts Launched as Faith-based Recovery Ministry
- BraveHearts birthed out of Michaelās redemption story, recovery from sexual addiction
- Accepted into Ministry Ventures, a ministry incubator led by Boyd Bailey & Mike Kendrick
- Commissioned & sponsored by North Point Community Church, Andy Stanley, Sr. Pastor
- BraveHearts pioneers the use of teleconferencing for sexual addiction recovery groups
Ministry Focus Shifts to Increase Awareness, Education
- Michael’s story featured on ABCās 20/20, The View, other major media outlets
- Strategic partnership formed with Cru for campus evangelism, discipleship events
- Michael in Exposed sermon series w/ Andy Stanley, North Point Comm Church
- BraveHearts produces 100th Porn Nation event, campus attendance tops 46,000
Porn Nation
Campus-wide evangelism events co-sponsored by Cru campus ministries
Exposed
Church-based sermon series increasing awareness & education
Strategic Partnerships Help Expand Global Reach, Impact
- Moody Publishing and Michael complete Porn Nation 5-book deal
- BraveHearts, Cru complete two Porn Nation Eastern European Tours
- Porn Nation book voted āOutreach Resource of the Year ā by Outreach Magazine
- Campus, church, and conference appearances exceed 300 events, and reach 135,000+
- Michael, BraveHearts surpass 100 million impressions in national, local TV & print media
Pioneering a Bold New Approach to Recovery: Mentoring
- Rapid growth of social media, digital porn creates an alarming increase in sex addiction, trauma
- Ministry focus shifts from awareness and education to finding new solutions for recovery
- Michael pioneers use of 1-on-1 mentoring and group mentoring as a new approach to recovery
- 5-year proof-of-concept results confirm mentoring as arguably the most effective tool for recovery
- BraveHearts University launched as global platform providing online recovery and mentor training
Train 1,000 Mentors by 2030: Responding to a Mental Health Crisis
- “Launch Your Mentoring Ministry” Mentor Training & Certification Program debuts
- BraveHearts produces 5 mentoring-centric virtual summits attracting 24,000+ attendees
- Hundreds subscribe to MasterClass & Daily Disciplines online recovery training courses
- 200 men and women trained, dozens accredited as Certified Professional Mentorsā¢
- Train 1,000 Mentors by 2030 is our goal in response to a global mental health crisis
How We Can Help You Find Hope & Healing
“It helped me to see my addiction & myself more clearly; it provided me with enough hope that change for me is possible & showed me direction & the way to go. It changed the way I see my recovery & that I wasn't created to live in this addiction.”
M. M.
Become a Mentor and Help Others
We're looking for courageous men and women who are conquering addiction and trauma and are ready to guide others on their own Hero's Journey towards healing and freedom.
I Want To Be A Mentor